Block-mold.



W. J. HAMMER & S. T. PLAYFORD.

BLOCK MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 19I2.

1, 1?7,O5, Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Witnesses Attorneys 7' Mi /M? Jmimma W. J. RAMMER & S. T. PLAYFORD.

BLOCK MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.28,1912.

1,177,054. Patented Mar. 28, 191

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WZZ/Qjif/JfiW/ii/W Mmflfi MW; Witnesses I v Inventors- A "EM",

Attorneys W. J. RAMMER & S. T. PLAYFORD.

BLOCK MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED MA'R. 28,1912. 1,177,054, Patented Mar. 28,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- mi/erlz'ngzqhylbld Tm: coumnm ILANDGRAPH cu., \VASHINfiTON, n. c.

WILLIAM J. RAMMER AND STERLING PLAYFORD, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

BLOCK-MOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, 1916.

Application filed March 28, 1912. Serial No. 686,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat we, WILLIAM J. RAM- :um: and STERLING T. PLAYFOBD, citizens of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Block-Mold, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of ourinvention are to provide a machine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction that may be operated by hand for quickly and easily forming locks of the kind having one longitudinal edge concave and the other longitudinal edge convex.

A further object is to provide means for automatically troweling the concave and convex edges of the block so that said edges will be formed relatively smooth and even and so that the mating concave and convex edges of two completed blocks will fit together accurately.

More specifically, it is our object in this connection, to provide means whereby, when the mold is being opened, the concave and convex side edges of the mold will be moved first for a short distance in opposite directions substantially parallel with the side edges of the block being formed and then in a direc tion away from the block to thereby cause the said concave and convex side edges of the mold to trowel or smooth the concave and convex side edges of the block without danger of moving the block or breaking ofi the corners thereof, and also to prevent the concrete from adhering to said concaveand convex side edges of the mold.

A further object is to provide improved means for placing the platen boards in position under the mold and for removing them when a completed block has been de-.

posited thereon. a

Our invention consists in certain details, in the construction. arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanving drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows atop or plan view of a complete machine embodying our invention,

the hopper being removed. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the same. the dotted lines at the top right co ner of said figure showing the position of the hoppe when removed from the top of the mold. The position of I top of the the platen holding and supporting device when removed from the mold is also illus trated by dotted lines in said figure. Fig. 4. shows a detail, sectional view illustrating one end of the concave side of the mold. F 1g. 5 shows a similar view illustrating the convex side ofthe mold. Fig. 6 is a perspective showing a portion of the means whereby the side members of the mold are oper ated and controlled. Fig. 7 shows a trans verse, sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 2. 1

- Referring to the accompanying drawings, We have used the reference numeral 10 to ind cate generally the frame of the machine. This frame preferably comprises base members 11, uprights 12 at the corners thereof, cross bars 1 1, braces 15 and 100. At the to rear are two tracks 16 connected at the rear by a bar 102. i

Two supporting bars 30 and 31 are extended transversely of the machine, the bar 31 being at the too near the front and the bar 30 being slightly inthe rearof the center of the machine. These bars are mounted so as to be capable of adjustment toward and from each other by means of the bolts 29 extended through the slots 28. The said bars 30 and 31 are also connected with each other by means of bolts 101, whereby they may be adjusted toward each other.

The mold proper comprises two side members 32 and 33, the side member 32 being preferably provided with a convex edge 106, as shown in Fig. 5. and the mold side member 33 being preferably provided with a concave edge 105 illustrated in Fig. 4. The mold member 33 is movably supported by means of two links 107. each pivoted at one end tothe mold member 33 and extended straight forwardly and pivoted at its other end to the bar 31. The mold member 32 is movablv supported bv means of two links 108, each being pivoted at its front end to the mold member 32 and being extended straight rearwardlv and pivoted to the bar 30. The said mold member 32 has fixed to it a hopper supporting plate 109 which also rests upon the bars 30 and 102 and is movable with the mold member 32.

The end mold members are designated- 47 so as to be capable of movement toward and from the center of the mold opening. Each pair of guide rods 46 is connected by a block 110. In this block are mounted set screws 48 for clamping the guide rods 46 to the block in any position desired. l/Ve have provided for moving these mold members toward and from the center of the mold as follows: The reference symbol 49 indicates a lever fulcrumed to a bracket 51 at 51. This bracket is fixed to one of the side members 16 of the frame. Pivoted to the rear end of the lever 49 is a rod (35 which extends transversely of the machine frame under the plate 109 and is pivoted at its other end to a lever 64 which is fulcrumed at the opposite side of the machine frame. Near the rear end of the lever 49 is a link 55 extended inwardly toward the center of the machine and pivoted to the mold member Near the front end of the lever 49 is a rod 61 extended inwardly toward the center of the machine frame and pivotally connected. to the mold member 33. Fulcrumed near the front end of the lever 49 is a lever 49 having its rear end shaped and positioned to be capable of engaging the adjacent side of the frame member 16. The forward end of the lever 4.9 is provided with an upturned lug 49 and said parts are so arranged that when the lever 49 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and is moved toward the right its rear end will. engage the adjacent part of the frame member 16 and thus move the outer end of the lever 49 to the right and the rear end of the lever 49 to the left until the said lever 49 assumes the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Then when the lever 49 is moved from its dottedline position in Fig. 1 forwardly and to the left the lever 49 engages the upwardly extending lug 49* and causes the forward end of the lever 49 to move to the left and the rear end to the right.

Assuming that the mold members 32 and 33 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 then obviously the first effect of a movement of the lever 49 to the right will be to move the mold member 33, first, for a short distance toward the right and in a direction substantially at right angles to a fore. and aft line through the machine. At the same time the mold member 32 will be moved toward the left for a short distance substantially in a line at right angles to a fore and aft line through the machine. After this movement has taken place for a short time then both the mold members will move away from the center of the mold cavity. Obviously, the

- first effect of this movement will be to trowel the convex and concave side edges of the block in the mold and the continued movement of the said mold members will remove them from the block so that the block may be readily andeasily removed from the machine.

One of the advantages of having the mold members 32 and 33 moved in opposite directions is that this troweling movement of said mold members will not tend to move the block on its platen as one mold member is moving in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. At the time these mold members are troweling the block and moving away from it, it is desirable that the end members of the mold be also moved slightly so as to stand clear of the block and permit its removal. In order to effect this movement each of the blocks 110 is provided with a pin 110 extending downwardly into an opening formed in the lever 49 on one side and the lever 64 on the other side. The pin 110 enters the lever 49 slightly in front of its fulcrum and the other pin 110 enters the lever 64 slightly in the rear of its fulcrum so that both of the end mold members 34 and 35 are moved slightly outwardly away from the center of the mold cavity.

Mounted on top of the plate 109 is a hopper comprising upright and members 19 and side members 17 which latter are inclined. downwardly and toward each other. This hopper is open at its top and bottom. Attached to the end 19 are the rods 27 shown in Fig. 2, which are extended rearwardly and outwardly and are pivoted to the levers 24. These levers are fulcrumed to the rod 21 at the ends 22 thereof. At the forward end of the levers 24 is a cross bar or handle 26 connecting said forward ends. This handle is held in position on the levers 24 by means of the bolts 25. Obviously, when the handle 26 is moved from the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 3, to the position shown by dotted lines in said figure, the hopper will be moved rearwardly across the plate 109.

Our improved means for supporting and adjusting the platen or mold bottom is as follows: Mounted in the forward uprights 12 is a shaft 74 mounted in adjustable bearings 74, which bearings are provided with bolts 74. Said bolts project through the slots 75 in the frame members 12, and thus provide for the vertical adjustment of the shaft 7 4. Fixed to the shaft 74 are two arms 78 extending forwardly and upwardly. Pivoted to the rear upright frame member 12 on each side are two levers 7 land 72, the levers 71 being connected at their forward ends by means of a rod 71*. The inner ends of the levers 72 are also connected together by a rod 72. Two bell crank levers 68 are extended from a point in front of the machine rearwardly and then downwardly, their rear upper corners being pivoted to the rods 7 2 and their rear lower corners being pivoted to the rods 71. These two bell crank levers are also preferably connected in front of their pivotal points by a cross piece 72 shown in Fig. 7, to hold them firmly in position parallel to each other. The said levers 78 are also pivotally connected to the bell crank levers 68. The lever for operating the platen supporting device is indicated by the reference numeral 73 and is fixed to the shaft 74. I preferably mount on this lever 73 a coil spring 81 having one end fixed to the lever 73 and the other end provided with a projection 11% designed, when the lever 73 is in its downwardly extended position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. to strike upon the frame member 1 and thus limit and cushion the downward movement of the lever 73 and connected parts,

The platen or mold bottom is indicated in Fig. 7 by the reference symbol 68 and rests upon the twolevers 68- lVhen the. levers (38 are in the position shown in F 7, then the platen 68 will be supported thereon in position to form the bottom of the mold and when the block has been formed in the mold the operator grasps the lever 73 and moves it downwardly, thus moving the platen downwardly a short distance below the mold cavity and also a slight distance forwardly where the platen may readily and easily be grasped by an operator and slipped forwardly on the levers68 to position in front of the machine where it can be readily and easily removed and a new platen substituted therefor.

In practical operation, and assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7, then the concrete material is placed in the hopper and tamped or pressed to the desired extent. hen this has beendone the operator first grasps the handle 26 and thereby moves the hopper rearwardly 011 top of the plate 109. This removes all the excessive material from the block and forms a relatively smooth top surface for the block. As shown in Fig. 2, the end members 19 of the hopper ride along the tracks 16 and because the side members 17 slant downwardly and toward each other, the material passes into the mold and does not drop down at the ends of the mold members 32 and 33, it being noted that these elements and the plate 109 do not extend entirely across the machine. (See particularly Fig. 1.) Then the operator grasps the lever a9 and moves it to the right. The first effect of this movement will be to move the side mold members 32 and 33 in opposite directions and substantially along lines at right angles to a.

fore and aft line through the machine, thus troweling and smoothing the convex and concave edges of the block. movement of the lever 4E9 moves the said mold members 32 and 33 away from the block and also moves the'end mold members 34 and 35 away from the block so that the block rests freely upon the platen 68. Then the operator grasps the lever 73 and A further moves it downwardly, thus lowering the platen and its block and moving it to position where it can be readily and easily grasped by the operator and carried away from the machine.

In connection with the purpose for which our invention is primarily intended, to wit: the manufacture of concrete blocks having their side edges convex and concave, it is a material advantage to have the convex and concave mold sides moved for a short dis tance, first, substantially parallel with the adjacent convex and concave edges of the blocks for the purpose of troweling and smoothing the concave and convex edges of the blocks. By means of this troweling movement we are enabled to manufacture blocks of this kind that, when fitted together in a silo or other building, will form joints much tighter and closer fitting than is possible where the blocks are formed in molds that do not have this troweling movement. Furthermore, it is not sutlicient to have only a troweling movement along lines substantially parallel with the adjacent edges of the block. but it is also essential that the convex and concave side edges of the mold move away from the block after the short troweling movement in order that the block may be lowered away from the mold cavity.

Our improved means for supporting and manipulating the pallets is'advantageous in a machine of this kind as it can be quickly and easily operated by hand and the pallet and its block are readily and easily accessible to the operator for removal.

o claim as our invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a mold comprising a pair of end members mounted to move toward and away from each other, and a pair of side members mounted to move first longitudinally in opposite directions simultaneously to effect a troweling of the product, and then to move apart, to free the product; and means for actuating the side members and the end members.

2. In a device of the class described, a mold comprising a pair of end members mounted to move toward and away from each other, and a pair of side members mounted to move first longitudinally in opposite directions to effect a troweling of the product, and then to move apart to free the product; means for actuating the side mem- 3. In a device of the class described, a frame; a mold con'iprising a pair of side members; oppositely extended links pivoted at their outer ends to the frame and pivoted at their inner ends to the side members, the links constituting a means for guiding the side members first endwise to effect a troweling' of the product and then t 'ansversely to open the mold; and a means for movingthe side members endwise, in opposite directions.

4. In a device of the class described, a fume; a mold comprising a pair of side members; oppositely extended links pivoted at their outer ends to the frame and pivoted at their inner ends to the side members, the links constituting a means for guiding the side members endwise to effect a troweling of the product and then transversely to open the mold; a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the frame; and connections between the lever and the side members of the mold, the connections being assembled with the lever upon opposite sides of the fulcrum of the lever.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame; a mold comprising side members and end members; oppositely extended guiding links pivotally connecting the side members to the frame; levers fulcrumed on opposite sides of the frame; a connection between the levers; connections between one lever and the side members, whereby the side members will first be moved endwise, to effect a troweling of the product, and then be moved transversely through the guiding action of the links to effect an opening of the mold; and connections between the levers and the end members the connections constituting means for moving the end members to open the mold.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame; a mold carried thereby; a pallet constituting a bottom for the mold; a shaft mounted to rock in the frame; means for operating the shaft; a. bell crank pivotally supported on the frame; a link connecting the bell crank adjacent its angle with the frame; a link connecting the lower end of one arm of the bell crank to the frame; and a crank arm carried by the shaft and pivoted to the other arm of the bell crank; the bell crank constituting a support for the pallet.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

vVILLl'Ah I J. HAMMER. STERLING T. PLAYFORD. \Vitnesses IVILLIAu A. IIILLMAN, A. PRUDEN KELLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

